Extra 20,000 Police Officers To Be Recruited

(Picture: MOD Police).

Boris Johnson's plan to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers will begin within weeks and an urgent review will take place of plans to make it easier for forces to use stop-and-search powers.

The recruitment drive is one of Mr Johnson's Tory leadership campaign promises.

The plan will start in September and the Prime Minister aims to have it completed over the next three years.

"As I said on the steps of Downing Street this week, my job as Prime Minister is to make our streets safer," Mr Johnson said.

"People want to see more officers in their neighbourhoods, protecting the public and cutting crime. I promised 20,000 extra officers and that recruitment will now start in earnest."

The Government will also urgently review pilot schemes which make it easier for forces in England and Wales to carry out stop-and-search operations under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

Seven forces have been piloting changes under which the rank required to authorise a Section 60 order has been lowered to inspector.

In addition, the degree of certainty required has been lowered, so that the authorising officer must reasonably believe serious violence "may" occur.

Downing Street said that the pilot schemes would be reviewed with a view to rolling them out across all forces.

Mr Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel have also set out plans for a new national policing board.

The panel will be chaired by the Home Secretary and bring together key police leaders, holding them to account for meeting the 20,000 officers target and working on a national response to other issues.

"Officers up and down the country put themselves in danger every day to keep us safe, they deserve our support," said Ms Patel.

"An additional 20,000 officers sends a clear message that we are committed to giving police the resources they need to tackle the scourge of crime."

National Police Chiefs' Council chairman Martin Hewitt said the proposed substantial growth in police officers will ease the pressure on our people and help us to reduce crime and improve outcomes for victims.

"We will work closely with the College of Policing and the Government on the detail and practical implications of such a significant recruitment drive," said Mr Hewitt.